Early Spring Fishing, Are You Ready?
After a long cold winter peering down a small hole in the ice, I’ll bet you can’t wait to sit in a boat and fish your favorite lake or river system. Think of getting ready for this event as a sport in itself.
One of the things you will have to get ready is your boat. While it worked fine when you stored it for winter just a few months ago, it may need some attention now. Whether it is maintenance items or some things that just got neglected last fall, now’s the time to do it.
When I pull my Crestliner boat out of storage, the first thing I will check is the electrical connections. The new boat models now remind me of a large computer with many related components that all work together. The simplest thing such as a corroded battery terminal can have an ill effect on your whole boat. Now’s a great time to grease everything, check oil, clean everything and maybe apply a coat of wax.
Check over your trailer by checking the air pressure, the lights, and don’t forget to look over and repack the wheel bearings if needed. Wheel bearings aren’t something you want to deal with half way to the boat landing on a busy highway.
Now that your boat is all set, how about you’re fishing equipment? Winter is a great time to clean out your tackle box. Organize everything and take inventory. You will need to check all your baits, and sharpen all your hooks.
Many times this gets put off till a nice fish is lost. Fishing line is equally important to replace. Buy the best quality line. Consider it the lifeline between you and a ten-pound walleye.
Inspect your supply of jigs and any rigs you may be using. If you tie your own spinner rigs, now is a great time to do so. If you need to replace a lot of things or add a few more baits, it’s good to know what you need early. Trust me, if you spend a few dollars a week on tackle, it may go unnoticed. If you spend several hundred dollars, your spouse may come unglued or worse yet, spend that same amount on themselves for something not nearly as necessary as fishing equipment!
Your local winter sport show is a great place to visit next. You can usually find some first-rate deals on just about anything you may need for hooking the big ones. I like to buy two St. Croix rods each year. You can never have too many rods. Some of the great things about these shows are seeing all the new products coming out and having the dealers and product reps right there to talk to you about them. Treat yourself to a seminar or two given at these events also. I have picked up some excellent fishing tips over the years from attending these seminars and shows.
Well, everything is ready to go. The ice is finally gone and you can’t wait any longer to get on the open water. Plan some extra time at these icy boat landings, as there may not be any docks in yet. Being prepared will allow you to have a great experience on your first trip out. Hope to see you on the water soon.
One of the things you will have to get ready is your boat. While it worked fine when you stored it for winter just a few months ago, it may need some attention now. Whether it is maintenance items or some things that just got neglected last fall, now’s the time to do it.
When I pull my Crestliner boat out of storage, the first thing I will check is the electrical connections. The new boat models now remind me of a large computer with many related components that all work together. The simplest thing such as a corroded battery terminal can have an ill effect on your whole boat. Now’s a great time to grease everything, check oil, clean everything and maybe apply a coat of wax.
Check over your trailer by checking the air pressure, the lights, and don’t forget to look over and repack the wheel bearings if needed. Wheel bearings aren’t something you want to deal with half way to the boat landing on a busy highway.
Now that your boat is all set, how about you’re fishing equipment? Winter is a great time to clean out your tackle box. Organize everything and take inventory. You will need to check all your baits, and sharpen all your hooks.
Many times this gets put off till a nice fish is lost. Fishing line is equally important to replace. Buy the best quality line. Consider it the lifeline between you and a ten-pound walleye.
Inspect your supply of jigs and any rigs you may be using. If you tie your own spinner rigs, now is a great time to do so. If you need to replace a lot of things or add a few more baits, it’s good to know what you need early. Trust me, if you spend a few dollars a week on tackle, it may go unnoticed. If you spend several hundred dollars, your spouse may come unglued or worse yet, spend that same amount on themselves for something not nearly as necessary as fishing equipment!
Your local winter sport show is a great place to visit next. You can usually find some first-rate deals on just about anything you may need for hooking the big ones. I like to buy two St. Croix rods each year. You can never have too many rods. Some of the great things about these shows are seeing all the new products coming out and having the dealers and product reps right there to talk to you about them. Treat yourself to a seminar or two given at these events also. I have picked up some excellent fishing tips over the years from attending these seminars and shows.
Well, everything is ready to go. The ice is finally gone and you can’t wait any longer to get on the open water. Plan some extra time at these icy boat landings, as there may not be any docks in yet. Being prepared will allow you to have a great experience on your first trip out. Hope to see you on the water soon.
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